Poppies

• ''Three days before Armistice Day...Before you left''

  • Armistice Sunday = immediate themes of remembrance from the first line
  • Before you left = deliberately vague time, it's insignificant
• ''Sellotape bandaged around my hands''

  • sellotape = domestic imagery, her identity
  • bandaged = emotive verb, depicts pain
• ''the world overflowing like a treasure chest''

  • simile
  • overflowing = metaphor, the world is too much for his innocence, negative images
  • treasure chest = the son is excited for the war/world
• ''released a song bird from its cage''

  • released = her letting go, either of her son physically or letting go of containing her emotions
  • song = crying, finally releasing her emotions
  • cage = freedom
• ''without// a winter coat or reinforcements of scarves, gloves.''

  • enjambment = loss of control
  • the clothing = shows she's numb, physically and mentally. She is now unable to look after herself (grief)
  • reinforcements = military language